In the Northern hemisphere, beekeepers are being regularly confronted with severe inexplicable and sudden colony losses, with colonies exhibiting diverse symptoms, incl. CCD (= Colony Collapse Disorder). This decline in honeybees may lead to even more serious economic and ecological consequences than already experienced, because beekeepers and veterinary authorities are unaware of the underlying factors and cannot implement effective mitigating measures. Efforts by individual countries are doomed due to the high number of interacting factors and the lack of standards for both monitoring and research.
The global COLOSS network will develop such standards and identify the drivers of colony mortality. For this purpose, scientists, beekeepers and industry members from currently 55 countries collaborate. This worldwide integrated approach will enable the development and dissemination of emergency measures and sustainable management strategies to mitigate the detrimental impact of honeybee colony losses for beekeepers, agriculture and natural biodiversity.
COLOSS is financially supported by COST via the Action FA0803
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